Activities Beyond the Classroom (ABC) endeavored to provide every child in Cincinnati with access to athletic programming, including elementary school students. We believe that introducing elementary-aged students to athletics at a young age helps them develop critical skills both on and off the field.
Soccer, a sport played worldwide, crossed cultural and language barriers and allowed students from diverse backgrounds, skill levels, and physical compositions to work toward a common goal. ABC partnered with community members to teach students the basics of soccer while providing the opportunity to participate in a team sport. Students had multiple practices each week, where they learned and practiced the rules and concepts of the game. They then competed against teams from other schools during a brief season.
ABC partnered with FC Cincinnati and numerous community organizations to deliver this program to students completely free of charge, providing all necessary equipment and transportation. Professional athletes from FC Cincinnati participated in the activities, encouraging students to pursue their physical talents. ABC was incredibly grateful for the generous support provided by FC Cincinnati and the FC Cincinnati Foundation.
In its final year, ABC’s elementary soccer program was offered at 29 different CPS elementary schools.
In November 2023, ABC collaborated with FC Cincinnati and Cincinnati Public Schools to host the Elementary Soccer Invitational for students enrolled in the soccer program. Over 450 students from 29 elementary schools participated in a full day of soccer activities held at TQL Stadium and Stargel Stadium.
ABC partnered with Cross Country For Youth to provide Cincinnati Public School students the chance to participate in a team sport that emphasized individual discipline. Founded by cross-country legend Reggie McAfee, Cross Country For Youth is an organization dedicated to character education and healthy habits for school-aged children. In fall 2019, ABC began working with McAfee to bring this program to CPS students.
The core of Cross Country For Youth was character development. The 10-week curriculum included classroom instruction and physical activity, teaching students character traits such as discipline and focus. Students met twice weekly for 90-minute sessions:30 minutes for character and nutrition lessons and 60 minutes for distance running.
In fall 2021, over 200 students from six CPS elementary schools participated in the program. The season concluded with a meet at Withrow High School on October 27, 2021, where students ran a course at the school’s athletic complex in front of over 300 parents and supporters.
Through a partnership with Five White Tigers Martial Arts, ABC provided students in Cincinnati the opportunity to learn self-defense and self-awareness. Each year, students were invited to participate in a district-wide martial arts tournament.
Students in the program learned three core values that supported both academic and personal success:
ABC was proud to offer this program to students living near Mt. Airy and Hartwell Elementary, even if they did not attend those schools. Legacy students who had previously participated were also invited to continue training at these locations.
Tennis served as a platform for teaching both physical and mental resilience to elementary students. With modified equipment, ABC converted any flat surface into a tennis court, making the sport accessible. Often viewed as an elite activity, ABC aimed to place a racket in every student’s hands in Cincinnati. The tennis program was offered during gym classes and through after-school clubs.
This impactful program was made possible thanks to the generous support of Tennis for Charity, now known as First Serve, whose funding played a critical role in bringing tennis opportunities to students across Cincinnati.
Learning to swim at a young age offers numerous physical benefits and, most importantly, could save lives. Swimming is considered the only life-saving sport, and in Cincinnati, drowning is a leading cause of death for children under five.
In the pilot year of ABC’s Swimming for Safety Program, 30 students at Taft Elementary were taught water safety and treading techniques. By the 2018–2019 school year, the program had expanded to include various strokes and served 130 CPS students.
This program was made possible in large part thanks to the Cincinnati Recreation Commission and their Aquatics team, who generously donated pool time and waived instructor fees. Their support allowed students to participate in swim instruction during the school day at no cost.
Although ABC no longer directly operates these programs, we continue to fundraise to support K-12 athletic programming at Cincinnati Public Schools. To learn more or get your child involved, please contact your school directly.
